NASA has issued a press release saying that a decision on whether or not they will service Hubble Space Telescope will be announced Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.
I read the release with some laughter, because right after that statement, they said this:
If the decision is made to go ahead with a servicing mission, NASA will hold several other media events on Tuesday, Oct. 31 (all times
Eastern):2:30 p.m. News conference with the astronauts who would carry out the mission from Johnson; broadcast live on NASA TV. Questions from reporters will be taken from Goddard, Kennedy and NASA Headquarters.
3:30 to 5 p.m. Media interview opportunities on NASA TV. Hubble Space Telescope experts will be available for satellite interviews. The specific experts are TBD.
5 to 7 p.m. Astronaut media interview opportunities on NASA TV. Certain servicing crew members will be available for satellite interviews. The specific astronauts are TBD.
Media interested in the astronaut satellite interviews must contact the Johnson Newsroom at XXX-XXX-XXXX [number deleted] by 6 p.m. EST Oct. 30. The astronaut satellite interviews will be carried live on the NASA TV analog satellite AMC-6, at 72 degrees west longitude; transponder 5C, 3800 MHz, vertical polarization, with audio at 6.8 MHz.
To schedule a satellite interview with a Hubble Space Telescope expert, media must contact Ed Campion at Goddard at XXX-XXX-XXXX by 5 p.m. EST Oct. 30.
Now, if I were NASA — and if I were, a lot of the past, oh, 30 years of space travel would look a whole lot different right now — and I were saying "We may or may not go back up to fix Hubble", I wouldn’t immediately follow up that statement with 10 times as many words on how the press can find out more about the astronauts, scientists, and engineers and how to schedule interviews with them.
But that’s just me.
Wait, no it’s not. Emily noticed it too.
I have no qualms at all saying that I’m sure this is already a done deal. I said that on Coast to Coast AM last week, and I’m sayin’ it again now. NASA will go ahead with the mission. They’ve made some bad decisions in the past, and they’ll make more in the future, but this is one I think they won’t screw up.
October 30th, 2006 at 2:31 am
I hope you’re right. It will be one mission that will definitely resonate well with the public, and it would have a bit of exciting challenge to it.
October 30th, 2006 at 6:26 am
Sounds like a slam dunk that there will be a mission to repair the scope. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed, but it will be hard to use the keyboard while I do that!
October 30th, 2006 at 6:26 am
Sounds like a slam dunk that there will be a mission to repair the scope. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed, but it will be hard to use the keyboard while I do that!
October 30th, 2006 at 7:14 am
Speaking of Coast2Coast, I was listening as I went to sleep last night. One of the callers suggested strapping Hubble to the ISS. Art Bell pointed out he thought that would not be possible. So the caller said just put it on the moon.
Regardless, I’m happy NASA seems poised to do the right thing.
October 30th, 2006 at 7:35 am
Are we to assume that this will be the last service of the Hubble? Once new gyros are installed, will the satalites life span depend on how long the gyros last and then thats it?
October 30th, 2006 at 7:55 am
Yay! More desktop backgrounds for years to come!
October 30th, 2006 at 8:15 am
Only problem with that theory is if the final decision is still being debated, then it would make sense from a scheduling point of view to cover both bases just in case. I certainly HOPE you are correct, but having worked for the government in a past life, I don’t see this as definitive proof of anything.
October 30th, 2006 at 9:14 am
I agree with JerWah. I also worked for the government in a past life and wouldn’t bank on a schedule as proof. We are dealing with a big bureaucracy. That said, it is a positive sign.
October 30th, 2006 at 10:08 am
If this mission goes off as planned (2008 most likely), and given how long it was since the last one, it’s possible that Hubble will last long enough for another servicing mission. It just won’t be a Shuttle.
After all, it’s a huge hunk of machinery, and once it’s over, it needs to be brought down in a controlled manner. Carrying back is very unlikely, since it’s so big and heavy. That’s dangerous. Best to let it burn up over the Pacific, and let its legacy be carried on with other telescopes.
October 30th, 2006 at 10:15 am
I’ll be sad if hubble stops working, i like hubble
October 30th, 2006 at 10:24 am
…Wow. They’re very good at keeping the suspense, uh?
October 30th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Expect to be disappointed
sorry
October 30th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
BA, don’t you mean “since it’s so big and massive“? Picky picky picky.
October 30th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Absolute Zero,
I’m pretty sure he was talking about it making a shuttle landing more dangerous with the load, so in that respect (while an atmospheric glider) I think it is appropriate to refer to Hubble’s “weight”.
October 30th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
Hye, Imust be psychic– this was just posted on SpaceRef, about Hubble not needing a deorbit module for now.
And no, I meant “heavy”, as Wayne pointed out above.
October 30th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
I sincerelly hope that Hubble will give us more and more motives to be amazed at the universe and it’s awesome capability to amaze us even more.
And, after the span life is done with, it is sad, but also very fitting that the hubble would end up it’s life as a shooting star.
October 31st, 2006 at 1:58 am
This is already a done deal, IMHO. Griffin’s been very assured about the Hubble mission over the last few pressers. They just had to complete the RTF cycle before they could commit to the mission. I don’t think NASA would be throwing a “we’re not going to fix Hubble” party. That would be bizzare.